What Does Matthew 19:18 Mean in the King James?
He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
This list treats a neighbor’s life, covenant, possessions, and public standing as parts of one whole.
THE MEANING
These boundaries speak wherever your choices touch another person: their life, covenant, possessions, and standing in what is true. The verse shows harm taking several forms, from direct violence to betrayal, deprivation, and false testimony.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The lie this undoes is that harm only counts when it leaves a visible wound; betrayal, theft, and false testimony also injure another person.
THE ROOT
ψευδομαρτυρήσεις
pseudomartyrēseis
GROWS FROM
μαρτυρ-
martyr-
witness, testify; the word-family for a witness and the testimony they give
“bear false witness” in this verse is pseudomartyrēseis. The Greek verb keeps witnessing at its center: what is made false is testimony itself, not just a stray sentence. That reaches the standing a neighbor has before those who hear and judge.
ALSO GROWS
martys: witness
μάρτυς
It names the person who stands as witness, linking this command to the one who gives testimony.
martyria: testimony, witness
μαρτυρία
It names the testimony itself, the substance that can be made false in this command.
martyreō: bear witness, testify
μαρτυρέω
This verb from the same family appears when Jesus says he bears witness to the truth in John 18:37.
THE PATTERN
A neighbor’s integrity is protected across bodily, relational, material, and testimonial harms.
Ye shall not steal, neither deal falsely, neither lie one to another.Be not a witness against thy neighbour without cause; and deceive not with thy lips.For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.THE THREAD
Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.Matthew’s “false witness” and John’s “bear witness” share the Greek root μαρτυρ- (martyr-, witness and testimony). The same testimony that can distort a neighbor’s standing can also bear witness to truth.
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